One Strange Thing

One of the strange things about living in the world is
that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is
going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it
sometimes when one gets up at the tender, solemn
dawn-time and goes out and stands alone and throws
one's head far back and looks up and up and watches
the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvel-
lous unknown things happening until the East almost
makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the
strange, unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun-
which has been happening every morning for thou-
sands and thousands and thousands of years. One
knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it
sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at
sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting
through and under the branches seems to be saying
slowly again and again something one cannot quite
hear, however much one tries. Then sometimes the
immense quiet of the dark-blue at night with millions
of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and
sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and
sometimes a look in someone's eyes.